---
title: JSON Field
label: JSON
order: 50
desc: The JSON field type will store any string in the Database. Learn how to use JSON fields, see examples and options.

keywords: json, jsonSchema, schema, validation, fields, config, configuration, documentation, Content Management System, cms, headless, javascript, node, react, nextjs
---

The JSON Field saves raw JSON to the database and provides the [Admin Panel](../admin/overview) with a code editor styled interface. This is different from the [Code Field](./code) which saves the value as a string in the database.

<LightDarkImage
  srcLight="https://payloadcms.com/images/docs/fields/json.png"
  srcDark="https://payloadcms.com/images/docs/fields/json-dark.png"
  alt="Shows a JSON field in the Payload Admin Panel"
  caption="This field is using the `monaco-react` editor syntax highlighting."
/>

To add a JSON Field, set the `type` to `json` in your [Field Config](./overview):

```ts
import type { Field } from 'payload'

export const MyJSONField: Field = {
  // ...
  type: 'json', // highlight-line
}
```

## Config Options

| Option                 | Description                                                                                                                                                                 |
| ---------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`name`** \*          | To be used as the property name when stored and retrieved from the database. [More](/docs/fields/overview#field-names)                                                      |
| **`label`**            | Text used as a field label in the Admin Panel or an object with keys for each language.                                                                                     |
| **`unique`**           | Enforce that each entry in the Collection has a unique value for this field.                                                                                                |
| **`index`**            | Build an [index](/docs/database/overview) for this field to produce faster queries. Set this field to `true` if your users will perform queries on this field's data often. |
| **`validate`**         | Provide a custom validation function that will be executed on both the Admin Panel and the backend. [More](/docs/fields/overview#validation)                                |
| **`jsonSchema`**       | Provide a JSON schema that will be used for validation. [JSON schemas](https://json-schema.org/learn/getting-started-step-by-step)                                          |
| **`saveToJWT`**        | If this field is top-level and nested in a config supporting [Authentication](/docs/authentication/overview), include its data in the user JWT.                             |
| **`hooks`**            | Provide Field Hooks to control logic for this field. [More details](../hooks/fields).                                                                                       |
| **`access`**           | Provide Field Access Control to denote what users can see and do with this field's data. [More details](../access-control/fields).                                          |
| **`hidden`**           | Restrict this field's visibility from all APIs entirely. Will still be saved to the database, but will not appear in any API or the Admin Panel.                            |
| **`defaultValue`**     | Provide data to be used for this field's default value. [More](/docs/fields/overview#default-values)                                                                        |
| **`localized`**        | Enable localization for this field. Requires [localization to be enabled](/docs/configuration/localization) in the Base config.                                             |
| **`required`**         | Require this field to have a value.                                                                                                                                         |
| **`admin`**            | Admin-specific configuration. [More details](#admin-options).                                                                                                               |
| **`custom`**           | Extension point for adding custom data (e.g. for plugins)                                                                                                                   |
| **`typescriptSchema`** | Override field type generation with providing a JSON schema                                                                                                                 |
| **`virtual`**          | Provide `true` to disable field in the database. See [Virtual Fields](https://payloadcms.com/blog/learn-how-virtual-fields-can-help-solve-common-cms-challenges)            |

_\* An asterisk denotes that a property is required._

## Admin Options

The customize the appearance and behavior of the JSON Field in the [Admin Panel](../admin/overview), you can use the `admin` option:

```ts
import type { Field } from 'payload'

export const MyJSONField: Field = {
  // ...
  admin: { // highlight-line
    // ...
  },
}
```

The JSON Field inherits all of the default options from the base [Field Admin Config](../admin/fields#admin-options), plus the following additional options:

| Option              | Description                                                                                                                                                   |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **`editorOptions`** | Options that can be passed to the monaco editor, [view the full list](https://microsoft.github.io/monaco-editor/typedoc/variables/editor.EditorOptions.html). |

## Example

`collections/ExampleCollection.ts`

```ts
import type { CollectionConfig } from 'payload'

export const ExampleCollection: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'example-collection',
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'customerJSON', // required
      type: 'json', // required
      required: true,
    },
  ],
}
```
## JSON Schema Validation

Payload JSON fields fully support the [JSON schema](https://json-schema.org/) standard. By providing a schema in your field config, the editor will be guided in the admin UI, getting typeahead for properties and their formats automatically. When the document is saved, the default validation will prevent saving any invalid data in the field according to the schema in your config.

If you only provide a URL to a schema, Payload will fetch the desired schema if it is publicly available. If not, it is recommended to add the schema directly to your config or import it from another file so that it can be implemented consistently in your project.


### Local JSON Schema

`collections/ExampleCollection.ts`

```ts
import type { CollectionConfig } from 'payload'

export const ExampleCollection: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'example-collection',
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'customerJSON', // required
      type: 'json', // required
      jsonSchema: {
        uri: 'a://b/foo.json', // required
        fileMatch: ['a://b/foo.json'], // required
        schema: {
          type: 'object',
          properties: {
            foo: {
              enum: ['bar', 'foobar'],
            }
          },
        },
      },

    },
  ],
}
// {"foo": "bar"} or {"foo": "foobar"} - ok
// Attempting to create {"foo": "not-bar"} will throw an error
```

### Remote JSON Schema

`collections/ExampleCollection.ts`

```ts
import type { CollectionConfig } from 'payload'

export const ExampleCollection: CollectionConfig = {
  slug: 'example-collection',
  fields: [
    {
      name: 'customerJSON', // required
      type: 'json', // required
      jsonSchema: {
        uri: 'https://example.com/customer.schema.json', // required
        fileMatch: ['https://example.com/customer.schema.json'], // required
      },
    },
  ],
}
// If 'https://example.com/customer.schema.json' has a JSON schema
// {"foo": "bar"} or {"foo": "foobar"} - ok
// Attempting to create {"foo": "not-bar"} will throw an error
```
